Tape dispenser



K. GLEW TAPE DISPENSER Dec. 29, 1953 Filed April 27, 1949 mhm Patented Dec. 29, 1953 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to tape dispensers and more particularly to an improved form of dispenser for facilitating two hand control over the dispensing and tearing of tape from a conventional roll thereof.

It is one object of this invention to provide a simple form of tape dispenser by which a person can loosely support a roll of tape during unrolling thereof and subsequently effect a braking action on the roll of tape during tearing of a strip therefrom.

Another object is to provide a tape dispenser which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and highly efficient in use.

These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tape dispenser embodying my improved form of construction.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1 illustrating the effects brought about by my improved construction.

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 taken along line 3& thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a layout of the blank from which my improved dispenser is formed.

The invention is best adapted for use with larger rolls of tape of the type commonly known as masking tape. Masking tape of this type, as the name implies, is used extensively in spray painting for securing paper or other such material to portions of an article for the purpose of blocking out all portions of the article which are not to receive any paint. More particularly such type of tape is used in automobile paint shops for covering chromium plated trimming of a vehicle body so as to mask out such trimming during repainting or touching up of an original paint job on a vehicle.

It has been a common practice of tape manufacturers to supply masking tape on large rolls or spools so that a man can hold the roll with his fingers extending through the open center of the spool as though holding a large ring. It will be understood that by reason of the adhesive character of this masking tape, the torn end thereof usually reattaches itself to the roll and therefore must be picked from the roll before the tape can be dispensed therefrom. The men who apply this tape to the cars usually have dimculty in picking roll because their finger nails become brittle from the oil cutting and drying effects of the paint thinning fluids to which they are constantly exposed.

the torn end of the tape from they The present invention is embodied in a simple roll holder and tearing platform which may be of any of the forms that are well known and suitable for the purpose of dispensing and tearing strips from a roll of adhesive tape. For purposes of illustration one of the simplest forms of spool holder ill is shown in the drawings herein as comprising two disc shaped sides ii and 12 joined by a bridge piece it. The entire holder it is formed of a single stamping blank i l shown in Fig. 4 with the disc portions ii and I2 spaced sufiiciently from the bridge piece i3 so that when the blank is bent at crease lines 15 and it into a U shape a roll of tape ii of the size and type hereinbefore mentioned will fit into the holder.

It will be understood that the tape rolls ll come in various widths and therefore the width of the bridge piece it may be varied correspondingly without departing from the spirit of the invention. Irrespective of width, the disc portions I! and 12 are axially disposed and are each provided with a flange 22 and 2d, respectively. These flanges 22 and 2d are struck inwardly with respect to their disc portions a sufficient distance to form a hub 25 of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the core or spool it upon which the tape 2? is wound. In this manner the entire roll of tape ii is suitably supported for rotation on the hub 25 so as to freely turn between the disc sides H and 52 of the holder.

The roll ll is mounted in, the holder with its free or leading end 28 of tape 2? feedable tangentially of the roll toward the upper margin 29 of the bridge piece it of the holder. This upper margin 29 is provided with a serrated tip 36 and is preferably bent forwardly and upwardly as shown in the drawing so that the tip 39 thereof will pierce a strip i i of tape when the leading end 28 thereof is pulled downwardly. The strip 3! is thereby easily severed from the roll I1, the leading end of the tape adhering to the flat ledge 32 of the bridge piece Hi just back of the tip 30' thereof.

The present invention contemplates providing the holder l!) with a manual control whereby the person using the dispenser can at all times manipulate the tape with ease and assurance of dispensing the desired length of tape. To this end the holder is is provided with a pair of bars 4i and 52 each of which is formed with the respective discs l l and I2 at the time the blank it is out. These bars ii and :32 are preferably disposed in parallel relation with respect to the bridge piece and each bar extends diametrically of the open center of the respective disc with which it is formed.

Simultaneously with the pressing of the flanges 22 and 2 the respective ends of the bars 4| and 42 are bent and extruded as at 45 so that the bars remain in diametric disposition with respect to the open centers of the two side discs H and i2 but within the outer extremities thereof. Consequently, when the blank is bent into U-shaped form as hereinbefore explained, the two bars 4! and 32 are disposed rather close to each other within the hub 25 as is. best seen in Fig. 3. Thus the two bars iii='i2 are disposed close enough' to each other to be embraced by those fingers apposable to the thumb of the hand of the user as to be grasped between the last three joints of those fingers.

The bars 4! and :2 are further formed arouuser and the leading end 28 of the tape pulled from the roll i'l. When the desired length of tape is extended over the tip 3b of the bridge piece is the holder i can be gripped by the users leftv hand. In this connection it will benoted that the handle 53 is disposed in thev crook of the fingers proper of the left hand holding thev dispenser so that the thumb of the left hand can be pressed down upon the periphery of the roll I? so that the extended strip of tape can. be pulled taut by the users right hand incident. to tearing of such strip from the roll..

It should be here be noted that. while: the.

holder is held loosely on the fingers of the left hand as shown in Fig. 1, the side discs H and i2 merely form guides for the rotatable roll on the. hub structure 25. However, the spaced bars:

4i and d2 areso disposed that upon closing of the fingers only of the users. left hand, i. e., those digits of the left hand apposable to the thumb of such hand, these bars are pressed toward one another. Since. the bars are formed as a part of the respective discs ii :2, they too are'drawn toward, each other and press tightly against the side walls of the roll it to eiiect abrake-like action thereon. l'his enables the user to control the dispensing of tape lengths from the roll with assurance that no slippage will occur during tensioning of the extended strip incidentto the tearing operation.

With the foregoing improvements themaskers,

i. e., the workmen who apply masking tape to the articles to be painted, save considerable time because they need not fumble around with the roll E7 to peel or pick off the leading'end of the roll. Moreover, with the roll in the holder the:

two can be carried by the fingers of the users left hand, leaving the thumb and index finger of that hand free to cooperate with the users right hand in stretching and placing the torn strip of tape in a proper position at the article being masked.

From the foregoing it is now apparent that l have provided such improvements in tape dispensers to render them more efficient for quick masking and which in addition have made it possible to economize on tape as well as time so far as the workman is concerned.

In this manner the holder 19 can be suitably supported in the lefthand of the While I have shown and described one specific form of device for carrying out the principle of my invention it will be apparent that the same may be susceptible to variations, alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit of this invention. I therefore desire to avail myself of all variations, alterations and modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new' and desire to protect by Letters'Patent is:

1. In a tape dispenser of the type having a bridge portion provided with a tearing tip and having parallel discs extending therefrom each provided with an inwardly extending annular flange adapted to support a roll or" tape for rotation; the combination therewith of a diametric bar formed with each of said side discs in parallel relation to said bridge piece, said bars being arcuate in cross section to form side segments of a hand hold which is of relatively round configoration and adapted to be. compressed upon gripping thereof to thereby urge theside discsinto engagement with the side Walls of a roll of tape between said discs.

2. In a roll tape dispenser of the type having abridge piece from which extends parallel sides each formed with a central opening bordered by an inwardly extending, flange upon which to rotatably support a roll of tape; the combination therewith of a diametric bar formed with each of said sides in parallel relation to each other and to said bridge piece, said bars being adapted to be compressedtoward each other upon gripping thereof to thereby urge the sides into engagement with the side walls of a roll of tape between said sides, said parallel bars forming a hand hold adapted to fit within the fingers only. of one hand of the person operating the. dispenser when the fingers extendthrough the central opening bordered by said inwardly extending. flanges. and envelop the parallel bars.

3. In a tape dispenser of the type having a bridge portion provided with a tearing tip. and having parallel discs extending therefrom. each provided with an annular inwardly extending flange adapted to supporta roll' of tape for rotation; the combination therewith of a diametric bar formed with each of said side discs in parallel relation to said bridgepiece, said bars being disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect,

to each other so as to be embraced by those fingers of a user apposable to the thumb for compression toward each otherupon gripping of said bars within those fingers to thereby urge the side discs. into engagement with the side walls of a roll of tape betweensaid discs.

KERMIT GLEWT;

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,057,643 Christner et al July 15, 1913 1,708,725 Huempfner Apr. 9, 1929 1,826,465 Gilrnan Oct. 6, 1931 2,119,537 Halpin June 7, 1938 2,275,408 Alliss Mar. 10, 1942 2,324,796 Neptune July'20, 1943 2,469,247 Smith May 3,1949 

